Local News

The City of Enid is accepting resumes for Ward 6 City Commissioner to fill an unexpired term.

This vacancy shall be filled by a candidate who meets the following criteria:

Must be an registered voter of the State of Oklahoma

Be at least twenty-five years of age

Shall have been, and for the next two years next preceding, a resident of the City of Enid

Must be a resident of Ward 6

Resumes will be accepted until 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 16.

The family of a teenage boy shot by Oklahoma City police is speaking out against the department and the officer who has returned to duty after being cleared by the district attorney last month. Lorenzo Clerkley, 14, was shot twice, in the hip and thigh, March 10 by Sgt. Kyle Holcomb when officers responded to a 911 call of a home burglary. Clerkley and four other teenage boys were playing with air guns in an abandoned house near SE 59 and Bryant Avenue. Holcomb, with his handgun pointed through a hole in the fence, ordered the boy to show his hands and drop his weapon and then fired four shots, striking the boy twice.

A former Enid Public School employee was charged last month with three misdemeanor counts of breaking and entering a dwelling without permission after being seen on surveillance video inside an elementary school after she resigned her position with the district. Officials began investigating Tabitha Leanna Mongold, a former family resource coordinator, when a nurse at Garfield Elementary Schools noticed pills were missing from bottles belonging to students. Fitzgerald said the former employee was arrested and charged by Garfield County District Attorney’s Office. She said any additional charges will be determined by the district attorney’s office.

A student is dead and 8 are injured during yet another school shooting in America, this time in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Late Tuesday night, the sheriff’s office identified one of the suspects as Devon Erickson, 18, but said it would provide no further information about him. Sheriff Spurlock said the suspects, who were armed with a handgun and other weapons, confronted law enforcement officers when they arrived. He said the suspects, Mr. Erickson and one juvenile, were not injured.

City of Enid Engineering officials announced today that crews will be making connections to a new water line; therefore, causing a temporary water outage. Officials said the outage is estimated to last for approximately eight hours beginning at 8:00 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Areas impacted by the temporary water outage include:

On Cedar from 4th to Grand

On Birch from 4th to Grand

On Poplar from 4th to Grand

On Cherry from 4th to Grand

On 2nd from Cedar to Cherry

On 3rd from Cedar to Cherry

On Kennedy from Cedar to Cherry

On 4th from cedar to Cherry

Enid City Commission said farewell to Mayor Bill Shewey along with two other members during the regular meeting Monday night. Ward 5 Commissioner Tammy Wilson and Ward 1 Commissioner Ron Janzen were honored for their service, taking with of them a symbolic key to the city. In their business Monday, commissioners approved three ordinances rezoning property in the Lahoma Courts addition to C-3, general commercial district. In late February, Enid City Commission purchased 25 subdivision properties, bringing the city's total possession of Lahoma Courts to 47, leaving just one property not owned by the city.

Gov. Kevin Stitt gets to decide a hotly contested liquor bill that advanced to his desk Monday. Senate Bill 608 would require all wholesalers get the opportunity to distribute the 25 top-selling liquor and wine brands. Under current law, which drastically changed when voters passed State Question 792 in 2016, manufacturers of alcohol brands have the ability to designate exclusive distributors of their products, whereas before they were forced to make their products available to all distributors.

The top US trade negotiator said Monday that the Trump administration will be moving forward on President Donald Trump's threat to escalate tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods effective Friday. As of Friday, penalties on $200 billion of Chinese goods will be lifted to 25% from 10%, as Trump tweeted on Sunday.

Enid City Commission will discuss rezoning of Lahoma Courts properties during its regular meeting Tuesday. The commission's agenda lists three separate public hearings on the rezoning plans, followed by votes on ordinances changing the properties to C-3, which is general commercial district. In late February, Enid City Commission purchased 25 subdivision properties, bringing the city's total possession of Lahoma Courts to 47, leaving just one property. The city bought the properties at a cost of $2.1 million from Westside Builders Inc.

The Oklahoma City Council will consider Tuesday whether to reverse steps taken by the Historic Preservation Commission to protect First Christian Church from demolition. Four councilmen have proposed a resolution withdrawing an application to designate the 31.8-acre First Christian Church property as a historic landmark overlay district. Initiating the process of designating the property as a historic landmark, as the Historic Preservation Commission did on April 3, can have the effect of blocking demolition for up to 180 days.

A new statement from Boeing indicates that the aerospace manufacturer knew about a problem with the 737 Max aircraft well before the deadly October 2018 Lion Air crash, but decided not to do anything about it. Boeing previously acknowledged that an alert system that was supposed to be a standard feature in the fleet "was not operable on all airplanes."

The Oklahoma delegation returned to the nation’s capital this week as Congress returned from a two-week recess. The House focused on the Climate Action Now Act, while the Senate failed to override a presidential veto. The House voted Thursday 231-190 to pass House Resolution 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which directs the president “to develop a plan for the United States to meet its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement.”. The Senate was unable to override President Trump’s veto of a resolution calling for an end to U.S. support of a Saudi Arabian-led military coalition in Yemen.

A 25-year-old Waukomis man faces eight possible life sentences after being charged with first-degree rape, kidnapping and domestic abuse. Hunter Landon Timm’s bond was set at $250,000 during his arraignment Thursday. Timm was charged Wednesday with felony counts of first-degree rape, kidnapping, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, domestic abuse assault and battery-subsequent offense, domestic assault and battery by strangulation-subsequent offense and aggravated assault and battery upon a peace officer.

City of Enid event officials announced today the list of street closings in downtown Enid to accompany First Friday and Tri-State parade. The May 3rd road closures will begin at 3:00 pm. The closings include: Broadway from Washington to Grand, Grand from Randolph to Maine. Maine from Independence to Grand, Independence from Washington to Randolph, Randolph from Independence to Grand, Washington from Randolph to Maple. Officials are reminding attendees that after the Tri State parade, Grand from Broadway to Maine and Washington from Randolph to Maple will stay closed until 10:00 pm.

Police and medical services responded to a 911 call Thursday afternoon from Waller Middle School for a student who was exhibiting unusual behavior, according to Enid Public Schools. "A staff member noticed that a student was behaving differently than normal," EPS said in an email. "School officials determined the student had likely taken an excessive amount of medication." The student was transported to a hospital by emergency vehicle, according to the email, which describes the student as "responsive" at the time.

A 41-year-old Midwest City man was charged this week in Garfield County court with a single count of felony embezzlement. Christopher Michael Ames, who has 33 prior felony convictions, faces four years to life imprisonment on the charge. Online court records show a warrant was issued for Ames' arrest Tuesday, April 30, 2019, and bond on the warrant was set at $50,000. Ames is accused of taking more than $15,000 from JTV Supply on or between March 1 and April 16, 2019.

The Oklahoma House unanimously passed House Bill 2118 on Wednesday, setting new requirements and penalties meant to protect military airspace from encroachment by wind turbine development. Mike Cooper, city of Enid military liaison and chairman of Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission, said the legislation protects the strategic and economic value of airspace used by Oklahoma's three Air Force bases.
The bill is the latest in a string of pieces of legislation passed since 2017.

Federal wildlife officials said Wednesday a large scavenging beetle that has been classified as endangered since 1989 has become more plentiful and should be downlisted to threatened, a decision that environmentalists said is not justified by scientific data. Conservation efforts over the past 30 years have helped the beetle recover and it is now also found in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, and on Nantucket Island off the coast of Massachusetts, said Amy Leuders, southwest regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

Gov. Kevin Stitt raised more than $105,000 in the first three months of 2019 but didn’t use donor money to repay any of the nearly $5 million he loaned his campaign. Stitt’s campaign collected $84,000 from individuals and $21,250 from special interest groups, according to a report filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. He finished the quarter with $262,496 in his campaign account.

The intersection of Meadowbrook and Cottonwood would be closed starting Thursday for concrete repairs. According to a city of Enid press release, the intersection will be open for school traffic only, and the project is estimated to be completed in two weeks.

City of Enid Engineering officials announced today the intersection of Kennedy Street and Cherry Avenue would be closed on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 beginning at 8:00 am. The closure will allow crews to install a new water line across the road. Officials said the intersection is estimated to be closed until late Thursday afternoon.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a state law restricting access to drug-induced abortions is unconstitutional, the latest decision by the state's highest court striking down restrictions on abortions adopted by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The court overturned a 2014 state law that banned "off-label" use of mifepristone, a medication used for abortions, sometimes called RU-486. In striking down the law, the Supreme Court in a 7-1 decision ruled that the requirement "places a substantial obstacle in the path of women's choice and places an undue burden on the woman's rights."

Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities will be prohibited from creating “free-speech zones” under a new law. A bill Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law Monday essentially doubles down on free speech rights already guaranteed to college students under the First Amendment. Some public and private colleges and universities across the country have established “free-speech zones” on campus that are intended for protests, demonstrations and other expressions of free speech.

Kenwood near the North Van Buren overpass will be closed Tuesday for the rest of the week, according to city of Enid engineering officials. BNSF Railway and Oklahoma Department of Transportation have approved the drilled shaft plan regarding the overpass. Drilling for the new shafts would begin Tuesday, requiring the closure of Kenwood. Travis Rose, vice president of operations for contractor Bridges Inc.d, said the Kenwood closure might extend into next week depending on the weather.

Officials say three children suffered minor injuries when an inflatable bounce house went airborne on a windy day in Oklahoma. The bounce house was in place Saturday for a Muskogee Public Library event at the city's airport. The library says a strong gust of wind picked the bounce house up with three children inside. The library says emergency crews were already on scene for the event, and that the children were "shaken up" but no one was seriously hurt.

An anti-abortion bill that would ask Oklahoma voters to specify the state constitution does not protect the right to an abortion will not advance this legislative session. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat’s Senate Bill 195 failed to advance through the House before a legislative deadline last week. The proposed amendment to Oklahoma’s constitution would stipulate that no part of the document protects the right to perform or receive an abortion.

Former Vice President Joe Biden's announcement of a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination earned him an 11-point polling bounce, leaving him head and shoulders above the rest of the Democratic candidates. A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS after Biden's announcement on Thursday shows 39% of voters who are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents saying he is their top choice for the nomination, up from 28% who said the same in March.

Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke to a capacity crowd Friday in the InterBank Community Room in Kingfisher, at a town hall meeting hosted by the Oklahoma chapter of the conservative political advocacy group Americans for Prosperity. Stitt reiterated his campaign goal of making Oklahoma a "top 10 state." To give the state a fiscal safety net for down years, Stitt said he wants to gradually increase the state's savings from the $422 million in state coffers when he took office up to $2 billion.

A 47-year-old Enid woman and her 19-year-old daughter were arrested Thursday on complaints of child abuse when police learned of a child living in a home in squalid condition. Elizabeth Matthewson and Erica Matthewson were arrested on the felony complaints when officers were called to the home at 1837 E. Cedar. The house had many pets and smelled strongly of amonia while also being unsafe for a child to sleep in. Erica acknowledged it was not safe for the boy and said she considers herself an adult who should know better, according to the report

Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday signed legislation to overhaul Oklahoma's Supreme Court districts. Under the new law, Supreme Court justices will be selected based on Oklahoma's five congressional districts and the court will have four "at-large" justices who can reside anywhere in the state. Stitt also vowed that the shake up of Supreme Court districts is just the first of his many plans to reform the state's judiciary.

Speaking this week at a meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Rep. Kevin Wallace, who is chairman of the Appropriations and Budgets Committee, said he expected a $28 million increase in funding for higher education next fiscal year. The Oklahoma State Regents had requested an increase of more than $105 million from last year’s budget, which totaled $773.5 million.

Enid Police Department is asking business and commercial property owners to register designated contact people or key holders to the properties for responders in case of emergencies. The information obtained by this form is confidential and will not be shared beyond first responders. To fill out the information, visit The online form that allows for multiple points of contact to be submitted.

Kremlin-Hillsdale Public Schools will offer a driver's education and safety class this summer. The class will consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction by a certified driver's education instructor and regular classroom teacher, Roger Gossen. Gossen has 16 years of experience teaching driver's education/safety and 45 years of classroom teaching experience in mathematics. Also included in the class will be six hours of actual driving instruction for each student. A student must be 15 years old before the driving part of the instruction begins.

A 59-year-old Enid man was charged this week with trafficking in illegal drugs after Enid police officers said they found more than a half pound of methamphetamine hidden in his vehicle's engine compartment. Because of six prior felony convictions, Larry Scott Forrester faces four years to life in prison on the felony charge.

Former Vice President Joe Biden formally joined the crowded Democratic presidential contest on Thursday. The 76-year-old Biden becomes an instant front-runner alongside Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is leading many polls and has proved to be a successful fundraiser . Among Democrats, Biden has unmatched international and legislative experience, and he is among the best-known faces in U.S. politics.

A 22-year-old Enid man has been charged with soliciting sexual conduct or communication with a minor by use of technology. Jared Landrum, 22, faces up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted on the charge. Landrum is accused of facilitating, encouraging, offering or soliciting sexual conduct or engaging in communication for sexual or prurient interest with a 15-year-old girl on or between Dec. 17, 2016, and Jan. 4, 2017.

State election officials removed nearly 90,000 inactive voters from Oklahoma’s voter rolls earlier this month during its biennial purging of the list. The 88,276 deleted names of registered voters include those who haven’t voted in several election cycles and didn’t respond to an address confirmation mailing from the state. Oklahoma is one of just seven states in which failing to vote triggers removal from the rolls.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter has filed expert witness testimony in Oklahoma Gas & Electric’s rate case, asking regulators for a $32 million rate reduction for customers. OG&E is seeking an annual increase of approximately $76.6 million, which reflects a 4.4 percent increase over rates set in July 2018, to recover increased business costs and electric infrastructure investments. Hunter believes the opposite should occur.

Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday signed a bill that preempts Oklahoma municipalities from imposing fees on single-use plastic and paper bags In the short term, the legislation affects Norman, where city officials contemplated imposing a 5-cent tax on plastic and paper bags. But the bill prevents all Oklahoma cities and towns from taxing single-use bags and carryout or to-go containers.

Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics will host a public forum on current Oklahoma drug threats 6-7 p.m. Thursday at Northwestern Oklahoma State University-Enid, Room 131. OBN Director John Scully says the forum is designed to keep citizens better informed about current and emerging drug issues that impact families, schools, businesses and communities. The forum will include OBN experts providing insight into drug trends, discussing steps communities and families can take to prevent substance abuse and answering questions from the audience.

A Lawton woman pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding millions from a bank. Lori Christine Woodson, 62, could have to forfeit more than $7.5 million after her guilty plea to bank fraud and wire fraud in Oklahoma City federal court. She is expected to appear in about 90 days for sentencing. She faces up to 30 years in prison and a maximum $1 million fine for a conviction of bank fraud and a 20-year prison sentence and maximum $250,000 fine for wire fraud.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed legislation establishing guidelines for producing commercial hemp in the state. The bill signed by Stitt Thursday authorizes the state Department of Agriculture to develop and manage a hemp production program under the 2018 federal farm bill. The measure received bipartisan support in the state House and Senate, and officials say rules should be in place to allow for planting of industrial hemp in the 2020 crop year.

An annual government report released yesterday says Social Security's trust funds will be tapped out by 2035. That doesn't mean retirees will no longer get checks by then, But it does mean Social Security will only have enough funds to pay people three-quarters of their benefits when they retire.

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas is hosting a Garfield County town hall meeting in Enid on Tuesday. The meeting will be 10:30-11:30 a.m. in Hallie Gantz Student Center on the Northern Oklahoma College Enid campus, according to a press release from the congressman's office. During the town hall, Lucas will discuss Quote "his recent work in Congress, taking questions about issues important to constituents of the 3rd Congressional District, and seeking input on legislation currently before Congress,"

Enid Police Department's SWAT team placed sixth this week in a statewide competition for law enforcement agencies held in Stillwater. Capt. Gary Fuxa, commander of the 15-man team, said he was proud of the team's performance and how they represented the department. Nine members of EPD's team competed Wednesday against eight other agencies from across the state.

Jumbo Foods is renovating its store at 1716 S. Van Buren in Enid, with plans to reopen the store with expanded products and services. The grocery store and restaurant, a longtime fixture of the Van Buren Center shopping center, will be closed for a few weeks while renovations and remodeling are completed, said Gerald Blevins, president of Jumbo Foods. Jumbo Foods employs about 300 at its Enid stores, which also are located at 2311 W Willow and 221 S 30th

A thank-you reception for Mayor Bill Shewey and city commissioners Ron Janzen and Tammy Wilson is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Stride Bank Center. The come-and-go event in Convention Hall is free to the public and will end at 7:30 p.m. The three are each term-limited. Each of the three's terms expires in May.

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter has recused himself from the investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by two former University of Oklahoma administrators and his office has appointed a special counsel to assist with legal proceedings related to the investigation. Former U.S. attorney Patrick Ryan received a letter from first assistant attorney general Dawn Cash on Tuesday confirming his role as special counsel.

Enid Police Department is investigating a robbery at a local convenience store that occurred Tuesday night. Sgt. Eric Reddick said about 9:45 p.m. a man entered Pete's Market, 2006 N. Grand, through the front door of the business and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. Anyone with information leading to the arrest or prosecution of this or any crime can report an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (580) 233-6233

A man accused of murdering his long-time girlfriend and dismembering her body made his initial court appearance Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in Kingfisher, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and first reported by the Enid News and Eagle. The Kingfisher County District Attorney’s Office filed first-degree murder and desecration of a human corpse charges against Steven Stricker in conjunction with the murder of Barbara Baber.

Preliminary damage reports taken after Wednesdays’s storms in western Oklahoma point to an EF1 tornado having touched down and traveling about 1.5 miles, according to the National Weather Service. About 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, two tornadoes were reported at the same time about 4 miles west and northwest of Shattuck. Two homes in the area were thought to have been damaged by a tornado, with one sustaining heavy damage and the other home sustaining roof damage. No injuries were reported in connection with the tornadoes.

Yesterday was the final State of the City address for outgoing mayor Bill Shewey that was held at the Stride Bank Center ballroom. In his address, Shewey went over the successes of the city over the past 12 months including the Kaw Lake Project, The renovations at Vance Air Force Base, and the improvements in city infrastructure such as road construction. Former Governor Frank Keating was also on hand and addressed the audience by praising the hospitality and generosity of the community. After the governors speech, Mayor Shewey presented Governor Keating with a donation to the American Indian Cultural Center as a thank you for coming to Enid.

Enid City Commission on Tuesday approved an agreement for mutual aid and law enforcement assistance between Enid Police Department and the town of Lahoma. The agreement was approved without discussion during the regular meeting. Under the agreement, EPD officers will serve as law enforcement officers upon the request of Lahoma and approval of EPD Chief Brian O'Rourke.

A 45-year-old Enid businessman was charged Tuesday in Garfield County District Court with attempted extortion for threatening his business partner's life if the man did not relinquish his share of ownership in a business. Travis Blake Morgan was charged with felony attempted extortion and misdemeanor assault and battery. Morgan faces up to two years in prison on the felony charge and up to 90 days in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000 on the misdemeanor.

French President Emmanuel Macron pledged Tuesday to rebuild Paris' beloved Notre Dame Cathedral "even more beautifully" after a raging fire destroyed its spire and its roof but spared most of the structure, including the church's twin medieval bell towers. Macron said he wanted to see the renovation of the beloved Roman Catholic architectural landmark completed within five years.

Enid-born Skylab and space shuttle astronaut Owen K. Garriott died Monday, April 15, 2019, at age 88, according to his family. A memorial service will be held at a later date. The nonprofit Association of Space Explorers received word Garriott died at his home in Huntsville, Alabama. Colleagues and fellow astronauts alike took to twitter to commemorate the Enid native when news of his passing was reported.

The inferno that raged through Notre Dame Cathedral for more than 12 hours destroyed its spire and its roof but spared its twin medieval bell towers, and a frantic rescue effort saved the monument's "most precious treasures," including the Crown of Thorns purportedly worn by Jesus officials said Tuesday. Also surviving was the Roman Catholic cathedral's famous 18th century organ that boasts more than 8,000 pipes, after a plan to safeguard the masterpieces and relics was quickly put into action after the fire broke out Monday. Statues removed from the roof for restoration just days ago also were saved.

U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn, the Oklahoma City Democrat who scored an upset victory in November, collected nearly $378,000 in the first three months of this year for her re-election campaign as Republicans made her one of the top targets in the country. It was the highest fundraising total in the seven-person Oklahoma congressional delegation, eclipsing even the amount raised by U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, whose receipts for the quarter totaled $334,566.

Enid Mayor Bill Shewey cordially invites you to attend the State of the City address set for Wednesday, April 17. The doors at the Stride Bank Center will open by 11:30am with the program getting underway immediately. There is NO cost for those attending the event; however, if you choose to enjoy the lunch buffet, the cost is $10 per person and you can pay at the door.

Paris firefighters declared victory Tuesday, saying that the devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire was officially put out after an intense effort to save the world famous house of worship in the French capital. The Paris Fire Service announced on Twitter that firefighters "came to grips with" the blaze at 3:30 a.m Tuesday, more than 12 hours after nearly 400 firefighters had battled the inferno that altered the city's skyline. Two policemen and one firefighter had been slightly injured, according to the fire service. The cathedral's iconic twin bell towers were visibly intact. The 18th century organ that boasts 8,000 pipes also appeared to have survived, along with other treasures inside the structure as first reported by CNN

Kennedy Street between Birch Avenue and Cedar Avenue will be closed on Tuesday April 16, 2019 at 8am until 4pm to install a new water line across the road. Officials estimate the road to be closed approximately eight hours from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday, April 16 according to the City of Enid Engineering Officials in an announcement on Monday.

Greater Enid Parent Legislative Action Committee is hosting its second meeting Thursday, featuring guest speaker Shawn Hime, director of Oklahoma State School Board Association. The meeting will be 6 p.m. in the Autry Technology Center lectorium. Before taking over as OSSBA director, Hime served as the superintendent of Enid Public Schools. During his visit with the PLAC, Hime will discuss the state education budget and other education bills remaining in the Legislature, Greater Enid PLAC founder Roxanne Pollard said.

President Donald Trump wants to explore a twice-rejected proposal to send migrants to "sanctuary cities," but that is not the preferred solution to fix the straining immigration system, the White House said Sunday. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said it was one of many options, though she hoped Congress would work with the president on a comprehensive immigration overhaul.

Enid Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating the suspect involved in a theft at Lucky Mart on March 29. Officers were dispatched to Lucky Mart, 802 E. Broadway, in reference to a theft. The clerk told officers a man came into the store and took an item without paying. Video surveillance shows the man grabbed the item and put it in his pocket before leaving the store without paying. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (580) 233-6233

The North Van Buren railroad overpass currently being reconstructed will be named Veterans Memorial Bridge and will be adorned with more than 80 American flags on holidays and special occasions, thanks to a project of Enid A.M. AMBUCS. Oklahoma Transportation Commission awarded a $10.9 million contract last June to Bridges Inc., doing business as Scudder Bridge Co., of Newton, Kan., to demolish and rebuild both spans of the overpass. AMBUCS said the flag project is slated to move forward as soon as construction is complete on the bridge

Gov. Kevin Stitt is making progress on the ever-growing stack of bills on his desk, but has yet to issue his first gubernatorial veto. Stitt, who is in his first year as governor, has signed 36 bills so far this session. He also has 17 bills — 22 from the House and 14 from the Senate — on his desk awaiting action. Earlier this session, Stitt signed bills that expanded his executive power over hiring the heads of five major state agencies. He also signed the permitless carry bill that allows people to openly carry firearms without a background check or training.

President Donald Trump wants to explore a twice-rejected proposal to send migrants to "sanctuary cities," but that is not the preferred solution to fix the straining immigration system, the White House said Sunday. Press secretary Sarah Sanders said it was one of many options, though she hoped Congress would work with the president on a comprehensive immigration overhaul. The Trump administration is dealing with an ever-increasing number of Central American migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, an influx that has pushed the immigration system to the breaking point.

Staff at a juvenile detention center where a teenager died by suicide in 2016 did not follow policies and protocols upon finding the boy unresponsive in his cell, records show. An Oklahoma Department of Human Services Office of Client Advocacy report, recently filed in a lawsuit brought by Victims’ estate, states employees in several instances did not abide by the facility’s written policies and protocols for suicide prevention. Following the death, the state’s Office of Juvenile Affairs revoked the detention center’s license to operate.

University of Oklahoma regents spent more than six hours on Tuesday hearing the findings of an investigation into former President David Boren. Those findings were not released. The OU Board of Regents hired Jones Day, a law firm, to investigate allegations against Boren of sexual misconduct. Rainbolt-Forbes declined to answer questions after the meeting, say whether the investigation was over or describe what the board’s response might be.

Drugmakers that Oklahoma sued over their alleged role in the nation's deadly opioid crisis appear divided over whether they want their case tried before a judge or jury. Johnson & Johnson filed a motion Tuesday seeking a jury trial. The request came after Attorney General Mike Hunter dropped some of the state's claims last week. The move triggered a request to have a judge, not a jury, decide the case. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and Allergan filed a motion indicating they don't object to a trial before a judge if the state agrees to certain conditions.

Scientists on Wednesday revealed the first image ever made of a black hole, depicting a fiery orange and black ring of gravity-twisted light swirling around the edge of the abyss. The picture, assembled from data gathered by eight radio telescopes around the world, shows the hot, shadowy lip of a supermassive black hole, one of the light-sucking monsters of the universe theorized by Einstein more than a century ago and confirmed by observations for decades. It is along this edge that light bends around itself in a cosmic funhouse effect.

A new law went into effect last week allowing for court-appointed volunteers to serve as guardians for disabled veterans in managing their finances. Senate Bill 931, which creates the Veterans Volunteer Guardianship Act, was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The bill was authored by state Sen. Paul Rosino, and allows for volunteer guardians to be appointed by Oklahoma courts to represent veterans who are incapacitated or partially incapacitated to act as fiduciaries for their financial affairs.

The woman accused of vandalizing multiple Norman and Oklahoma City locations with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti was formally charged in county court Monday. Allison Christine Johnson, faces a felony count of malicious injury to property over $1,000, three misdemeanor counts of malicious injury to property under $1,000, and a fifth count of malicious intimidation or harassment. A hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 30 where Johnson can either schedule or waive a preliminary hearing, at which she would enter a plea.

The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming May 14 Covington special election is April 19, according to a press release from Garfield County Election Board. Anyone not registered may become registered by filling out an Oklahoma voter registration application form, and mailing the form to Garfield County Election Board office, the release said. Applications are available at the election board. They also are available at most post offices, tag agencies and public libraries in the county, the release said.

Community Develop Support Association received $10,000 in financial support Friday from Enel Green Power North America to boost the organization's home weatherization program. EGP, owner and operator of the Chisholm View I and II wind farms in Grant and Garfield counties, presented the donation to CDSA Executive Director Cheri Ezzell and CDSA board members during a brief ceremony Friday morning.

City of Enid Engineering officials announced today that water would be off temporarily in the following areas to make connections to a new water line. The temporary water outage will last approximately nine hours beginning at 8:00 am on Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Area impacted includes: Hemlock from Grand to 4th street. Kennedy from Hemlock to Beech. Mimosa from Kennedy to Beech

City of Enid Utility maintenance crews will have the water off temporarily to allow for the repair of a main valve. The area impacted includes: South Van Buren from Moore to Rupe, on Moore from Van Buren to Monroe, and on Jackson from Thompson to Moore. The water outage is scheduled for 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2019.

Edgar Ellis, 83, of Okeene, has died from injuries suffered in an accident in Major County last week, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report. Ellis was injured when the 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer he was driving departed the roadway to the right and traveled through a ditch and a barbed-wire fence before rolling one and one-half times, coming to rest on its top, according to the report.

A woman accused of spray painting racist graffiti described in detail "committing all of the acts that had occurred in Norman and Oklahoma City," court records show. Allison Christine Johnson, 45, told police that her intention was to "scare Jewish people, and people of different races, other than white," an investigator reported. Johnson was arrested Thursday afternoon by Norman police. She was booked into Cleveland County jail, where she remained Monday.

Enid Police Department is seeking the public’s help in its investigation of a burglary to an Enid business last month. At 1:47 a.m. March 29, offi­cers responded to Hos­sein’s Store, 757 N. 10th, in reference to an alarm where they found The subjects are seen on surveillance video going to the register counter where they disable the security cameras. Anyone with information leading to the arrest or prosecution of this or any crime can report an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (580) 233-6233.

Enid Public Schools is working to open its own day care center by next school year, in an effort to provide teachers and district employees with low-cost childcare. As a not-for-profit enterprise, it will be able to offer services for notably less than other options in the Enid area. There is no official estimate yet of what the day care center will cost the district, officials expect it to be “relatively low.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has resigned amid President Donald Trump's growing frustration and bitterness over the number of Central American families crossing the southern border. Trump announced on Sunday in a tweet that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan would be taking over as acting head of the department. McAleenan is a longtime border official who is well respected by many members of Congress and within the administration. The decision to name a top immigration officer to the post reflects Trump's priority for the sprawling department founded to combat terrorism following the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Oklahoma Senate has moved at a slow pace in confirming Gov. Kevin Stitt’s appointments to his cabinet, state agencies and various boards and commissions as Senate leadership said it seeks a more thorough approach to vetting gubernatorial appointments. With a May 31 end-of-session deadline looming, the Senate has confirmed just two of the 66 appointments Stitt has made thus far. But the pace for confirming gubernatorial appointments is about to pick up, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat told reporters last week.

City of Enid Event officials announced today the street closures for First Friday and the Chisholm Foundation Glow Run set for April 5, 2019. The closures are scheduled to take place between 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Washington will be closed from Maple to Randolph. Randolph and Maine will be closed from Independence to Grand. Grand and Independence will be closed from Randolph to Maine. The Glow Run through downtown Enid begins at 8:00 pm. This is a 5K chip-timed event, as well as a fun run. Proceeds will be used to benefit the Chisholm Foundation in support of educational excellence throughout the Chisholm Public School District.

After passing the House by a wide margin last month, a bill allowing school boards to permit certain personnel to carry handguns on campus is awaiting Senate approval. Under the bill, dubbed the Local School Protection Bill, Oklahoma school boards could decide whether to allow authorized personnel to be armed on school grounds, provided they have a reserve peace officer certification or a valid handgun license. The measure was approved 72-25 by the House.

A Perkins man was charged this week in Garfield County District Court with a single count of home repair fraud. The felony filed Monday accuses James Heath Curry, 36, of willfully and unlawfully entering into a "consumer transaction for home repair" with a woman and then required payment at a price that "unreasonably" exceeded the value of the repair and materials earlier this year. Curry faces up to five years in prison, a fine of $5,000 or both.

Gov. Kevin Stitt chose a former chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court to serve as the next member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Steven W. Taylor was appointed by Stitt on Wednesday morning to serve a nine-year term on the state's coordinating board for higher education. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Kenwood near the North Van Buren overpass will be closed Tuesday for the rest of the week, according to city of Enid engineering officials. BNSF Railway and Oklahoma Department of Transportation have approved the drilled shaft plan regarding the overpass. Drilling for the new shafts would begin Tuesday, requiring the closure of Kenwood. Travis Rose, vice president of operations for contractor Bridges Inc.d, said the Kenwood closure might extend into next week depending on the weather.

Officials say three children suffered minor injuries when an inflatable bounce house went airborne on a windy day in Oklahoma. The bounce house was in place Saturday for a Muskogee Public Library event at the city's airport. The library says a strong gust of wind picked the bounce house up with three children inside. The library says emergency crews were already on scene for the event, and that the children were "shaken up" but no one was seriously hurt.

An anti-abortion bill that would ask Oklahoma voters to specify the state constitution does not protect the right to an abortion will not advance this legislative session. Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat’s Senate Bill 195 failed to advance through the House before a legislative deadline last week. The proposed amendment to Oklahoma’s constitution would stipulate that no part of the document protects the right to perform or receive an abortion.

Former Vice President Joe Biden's announcement of a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination earned him an 11-point polling bounce, leaving him head and shoulders above the rest of the Democratic candidates. A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS after Biden's announcement on Thursday shows 39% of voters who are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents saying he is their top choice for the nomination, up from 28% who said the same in March.

Former councilman Dan O’Neil won the mayoral race with 4,385 votes, compared to Charles Lamb’s 2,159. Lamb was incumbent mayor who died in December shortly after filing for office. His name remained on the ballot since the issue went unaddressed by Edmond city charter and ordinances.

Election officials are gearing up to remove tens of thousands of Oklahomans from the state’s voter rolls. Oklahoma is one of seven states that allow election officials to remove names from the state’s voter registration list if they haven’t voted in several election cycles and don’t respond to address confirmation mailings.

Voters across Northwest Oklahoma chose representatives in municipal and school board elections. In North Enid, voters chose Jason Dockins, 85 votes; Mark Miller, 73 votes; and Matthew Miller, 70 votes, to serve on the board of trustees. James Coleman received 55 votes. In Waukomis, voters decided three races. For Office 1 on the board of trustees, Kevin Thedford defeated Shannon Kirkhart, 113-43. For Office 5 on the board of trustees, Michael hellman defeated Vanessa Burchardt, 91-62. For town clerk-treasurer, Rachael Felber defeated Misty Best and Tosha Tharpe. Felber received 94 votes, to 53 for Tharpe and 11 for Best. In Lahoma, Megan Murrow defeated Cheryl Bukacek by a vote of 17-12 for town clerk. In the Kremlin-Hillsdale Public Schools district, Jesse McCants defeated Jamie McAlister, 76-41, for the Office 4 school board seat. In the Garber Public Schools district, Jodi Sharp defeated Tim Beebe by a vote of 132-107 for the Office 4 school board seat.

We have plenty of road work to report on here on CTB News in 90 that will happen this week. Starting with the crack seal project on west broadway.

City of Enid street officials announced today the crack seal roadway project will resume on West Broadway Avenue beginning Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019. Work will begin on West Broadway at Cleveland and proceed east to the railroad tracks. Officials are reminding motorists this will be a moving work zone with traffic control devices in place. The crack seal work on West Broadway is scheduled to take place daily between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Work is expected to last approximately one week.

City of Enid street officials announced today that the eastbound lane of East Cambridge Avenue between 4th Street and 7th Street would be closed Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019 beginning at 8:00 a.m. This temporary closure will allow crews to complete street repairs in the area.

City of Enid Engineering officials announced today that the intersection of Kennedy Street and Birch Avenue would be closed on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. The closure will allow crews to install a new water line across the road. Officials said the intersection would be closed until Friday, April 5, 2019.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Oklahoma death row inmate Julius D. Jones, who was convicted of killing an Edmond man in his driveway in 1999. Without comment, the court declined to hear Jones’ argument that his conviction and sentence were tainted by a racist juror. Jones has now exhausted his appeals and is eligible for an execution date when the state resumes executions.